RMIT expert available for comment on Brexit

Professor Bruce Wilson (0414 236 765 or bruce.wilson@rmit.edu.au)  

Topics: Brexit, EU affairs

“The developments overnight of senior cabinet approval for a technical agreement are a crucial step in the Brexit process because, until this week, there has been serious doubt about whether a deal could be reached at all.

“The technical agreement is a 585-page document which sets out the terms of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

“It includes a seven-page political declaration that points towards the future relationship between the UK and the EU.  That political declaration will be the subject of negotiation over the next 21 to 33 months.

“It’s anticipated a bill to legislate for the Withdrawal will be tabled in parliament in December. In parallel, it’s anticipated that a summit of the other 27-member state leaders will be convened on November 25 because they must also sign off on the draft text.

“Australia will have to wait for the negotiations on the future relationship to see if the UK ends up being part of a customs union with the EU or not. That’s clearly the intention and it constrains the extent to which the UK can negotiate new agreements with third party countries like Australia.”

Professor Bruce Wilson is the Director of the EU Centre in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University. Professor Wilson is an expert on European Union affairs with 20 years’ experience and a regular media commentator on the topic.

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